The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a fresh departmental inquiry against a Junior Engineer arrested in a 2021 corruption case, after rejecting an earlier probe report, officials said on Monday.
Arshad Amin, a resident of Thathri in Doda district, was arrested under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in FIR No. 06/2021 registered at Police Station ACB (Central), Jammu. He was then posted as Junior Engineer (REW) at the BDO Office Changa, Tehsil Gandoh, Doda.
According to Government Order accessed news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) the Public Works (R&B) Department decided to hold a fresh inquiry after the Competent Authority rejected the findings of the earlier inquiry conducted by the Assistant Commissioner (Development), Kishtwar.
The earlier inquiry was initiated by the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (DRD&PR) Department, which had served a charge memorandum on Amin. His statement of defence was found unsatisfactory. The inquiry report was later examined by the DRD&PR, which observed “various shortcomings” and sought clarifications from the Inquiry Officer.
The General Administration Department had already accorded sanction for Amin’s prosecution in June 2023 and recommended the case to the DRD&PR under Rule-31 of the J&K Civil Service (CC&A) Rules, 1956.
After examining records shared by the DRD&PR and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the PW(R&B) Department concluded that the engineer was guilty of gross misconduct, but noted that the powers of holding regular departmental action rested with the PW(R&B) Department as the appointing authority.
The government has now accorded sanction for simultaneous regular departmental action against Amin on a post-facto basis, adopting the charge memorandum already served on him by the DRD&PR.
Er. Shivangi Gupta, In-Charge Superintendent Engineer, PMGSY Batote, has been appointed Inquiry Officer, while Er. Suresh Bharti, In-charge Executive Engineer, RDD Doda, will be the Presenting Officer. The Inquiry Officer has been directed to submit her report with clear-cut recommendations within one month, as per CVC guidelines.
The order stated that any transfer of the Inquiry Officer or Presenting Officer should not affect the inquiry, and the designated officer shall finalize the report within the prescribed timeline. (KNS)
